Fluid delivery device



United States Patent ce 3,097,671 FLUID DELIVERY DEVICE Nathaniel W. R.Bonetti, Baytown, and Ralph James, Jr.,

Channelview, Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

Esso Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth,

NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 47,789Claims. (Cl. 141-116) This invention relates to devices for supplyingfluids to containers. 'More particularly, this invention is a newifluidfilling device which is quick-acting, is dripless, and requires minimumphysical eifort.

When containers [are being filled with certain types of Ifluids, variousproblems arise. For example, in filling -oil drums with oil, it oftenoccurs that after a predetermined amount of oil has been placed in thedrum and the feeding of oil is terminated, the afterdrip causes an'inaccunate measurement. This aflterdrip also amounts to a waste and thetop of the oil drums must be cleaned for good housekeeping. The sameproblem is present when the fluid is a syrup or other viscous substancewhich tends to stick to the sides of the fluid nozzle.

Another problem with currently used fluid delivery devices is that mostor all of the fluid is directed vertically into the container. Thisvertically directed force causes a dynamic vertical force to effect thebarrel which leads .to erroneous weight readings. This is a particulardisadvantage in automatic weighing operations.

The fluid delivery device to be described herein in- :cludes structurefor eliminating the afterdrip and for reducing the dynamic verticalforce on the barrel. In addition, this device eliminates to a largedegree the tendency for many fluids to foam. In some cases this foamingtendency limits the filling rate on conventional nozzles.

Briefly described, this invention includes a support in which areslidably mounted inner and outer telescoping members. The telescopingmembers are adapted to fall as a single unit response to gravity. Thus,after the device has been positioned above the hole in the con :tainer,the release of suction which is holding the telescoping members upwardlywithin the support causes the single unit to fall by gravity to extendbelow the support. The inner member is provided with at least one fluidoutlot and is normally held retracted within the outer memher by aspring bias. After the telescoping members have been lowered into thecontainer by gravity, the fluid is flowed through the inner member. Theflow of fluid against the inner "member causes the inner member toextend beyond the outer member. Means are provided for limiting thedownward movement of the telescoping members. .After the container hasbeen filled with fluid, suction is :again applied to the inside of theinner member. This suction retracts the telescoping members up- "wardlyinto the support and also draws into the inside of the inner member thefluid droplets which are adherring to the outside of the inner member.

The invention as well as its many advantages may be further understoodby reference to the following detailed description and drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, showing the fluid delivery devicearranged above the container into which fluid is to be flowed;

3,097,671- Patented July 16, 1963 FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken alonglines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the telescoping members afterthey have been lowered by gravity into the top of the container;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the filling of thecontainer with a fluid, such as oil, with the inner telescoping memberin its fully extended position; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken [along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the support 10 is shown to which is connecteda stationary barrel 12. A collar 14 is provided on the lower extremityof the barrel 12.

A retractable barrel 16 is mounted for slidable movement with thestationary barrel 12. Retractable barrel collar 18 extends outwardlyfrom the retractable barrel 16 at a point below the collar 14 of thestationary barrel 12. The collar .18 is of a greater diameter than thediameter of the stationary barrel 12. A rubber ring 19 is providedbetween the collar 18 and lower extremity of stationary barrel 12 toprevent metal to metal impact.

wardly facing shoulder 22. The shoulders 22 are adapted to engage thetop of the collar 14 on stationary barrel 12 to limit the downwardmovement of the retractable barrel 16.

Mounted for slidable movement within the retractable barrel 16 is anozzle 24. The lower end of nozzle 24 tapers inwardly and downwardly. Ahole 26 is provided through the plug 28 which is mounted in the lowerpart of the nozzle 24. Also, a plurality of radial ports 30 are formedthrough the nozzle 24. The ports 30 extend upwardly from the bottom ofthe nozzle 24 for a particular desired distance.

Adjacent the lower end of the nozzle 24 a bevel 32 is provided. Thebevel 32 is shaped to mate with a mating bevel 34 provided on the lowerextremity of the retractable barrel 16. This provides for seal tightengagement of the nozzle 24 and retractable barrel 16 when they are inthe position shown in FIG. 2.

The nozzle 24 is of greater length than the retractable barrel 16. Aspring retaining ring 36 is connected to the upper part of the nozzle24. Spring retaining ring 36 extends outwardly from nozzle 36 and is insliding contact with the inside of the stationary barrel 12. A coilspring 38 is mounted aboutthe nozzle 24. The upper part of coil spring33 is in contact with spring retaining ring 36 and the lower part of thecoil spring 38 is in contact with the top of the retractable barrel 16.Thus,

spring 38 normally biases the beveled portions of the nozzle 24 andretractable barrel 16 into sealing contact. If fluids such as oil arebeing fed into the container 40, a cylindrical strainer 42 may beprovided around the inside Of the nozzle 24. The strainer 42 which mayconsist of wire cloth extends upwardly {from the bottom of the nozzle 24a distance suflicient to cover all of the ports 30.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the nozzle 24 and in fluid contactwith the hole 26 is vacuum tube 44. A wire cloth 45 may also be solderedacross the top of the vacuum tube 44.

An O-ring 46 is provided between the retractable barrel 16 and thestationary barrel 12 to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween.

Extending outwardly from the support is a vacuum connection 50 leadingto a vacuum pump 52. The application of suction from the vacuum pump 52through connection 50 to the nozzle 24 is controlled by means of valve54.

Extending upwardly from the support 10 is a fluid supply connection 56leading to a source of fluid not shown. The supply of fluid from thesupply source is controlled by means of a valve 60.

In operation, when it is desired to fill a container 40, the container40 is positioned such that the entrance 62 of the container 40 isdirectly below the nozzle 24. The nozzle '24 and retractable barrel 16are at this time held upwardly within the stationary barrel 12 by meansof a vacuum applied into the inside of the nozzle 24 from the vacuumpump 52. The size of the hole 26 and the size of the tube 44 are suchthat when the vacuum pump is operated, the atmospheric pressure againstthe outside of plug 28 is greater than the pressure inside nozzle 24.Hence, the nozzle 24 and barrel 16 are kept retracted in stationarybarrel 12. At this time, valve 60 is closed to shut-off the fluidsupply.

After the container 40 has been properly positioned and it is desired tofill said container with a predetermined amount of fluid, the valve 54is closed, thereby cutting off the suction. The cut oil? of the suctioncauses the nozzle 24 and the retractable barrel 16 to fall by force ofgravity downwardly into the opening 62 of the container 40. The downwardmovement :of the nozzle 24- barrel 16 unit is limited by the contact ofthe downwardly :facing shoulders 22 of the limiters with the collar 14on the lower extremity of the stationary barrel 12, as Shown in FIG. 3.

Thereafter, the valve 60 is opened. Upon the opening of valve 60, fluidflows from the fluid supply through connection 56 and support 10, barrel12, and into the nozzle 24. The dynamic force of the flowing fluidovercomes the bias of the spring 38. Thus, the nozzle 24 extendsdownwardly into the container 40, as shown in FIG. 4. This downwardmovement of nozzle 24 exposes the radial ports 30.

Most of the fluid flows through the radial ports 30. This radial flowreduces the dynamic vertical force on the barrel leading to more correctweight readings.

After the proper amount of fluid has been placed in the container 40,the valve 60 is closed to shut off the supply of fluid. Suction is againapplied to the nozzle 24 by the opening of the valve 54 in vacuumconnection 50. With the application of suction, any fluid droplets whichremain on the conical tip of the nozzle 24 are sucked upwardly throughhole 26 and vacuum tube 44 into the interior of the nozzle 24. Thiseliminates any afterdrip.

The applied suction also retracts the nozzle 24 and retractable barrel16 into the stationary barrel 12 to the position shown in FIG. 2. Thefluid delivery device is then ready to fill another container.

We claim:

1. A fluid delivery device for supplying fluid to a. containercomprising: a support; inner and outer telescoping members slidablymounted in said support and adapted to fall as a single unit in responseto gravity to extend below the support, the inner member extendingupwardly within the support a greater distance than the outer member andbeing provided with at least one fluid outlet and normally heldretracted Within the outer member by a spring bias, the flow of fluidagainst the inner member causing the inner member to extend beyond theouter member; and means for limiting the downward movement of the fallby gravity of the unit.

2. A fluid delivery device for supplying fluid to a containercomprising: a stationary barrel; inner and outer telescoping membersslidably mounted in said barrel and adapted to fall as a single unit inresponse to gravity to \extend below the barrel, the inner memberextending upwardly within the barrel a greater distance than the outermember and being provided with at least one fluid outlet and normallyheld retracted within the outer memher by a spring bias, the flow offluid through the inner member causing the inner member to extend beyondthe outer member; and engaging means on the barrel and the outertelescoping member adapted to in-terengage to limit the downwardmovement of the fall by gravity of the unit.

3. A fluid delivery device for supplying fluid to a containercomprising: a stationary barrel; inner and outer telescoping membersslidably mounted in said barrel and adapted to fall as a single unit inresponse to gravity to extend below the barrel, the inner member beingprovided with a fluid outlet at its lower extremity and a plurality offluid outlets extending upwardly for a particular desired distance andnormally held retracted within the outer member by a spring bias, theflow of fluid through the inner member causing the inner member toextend beyond the outer member; engaging means on the support and theouter telescoping member adapted to interengage to limit the downwardmovement of the fall by gravity of the unit; and a tubular membermounted within the inner member and in fluid contact with the fluidoutlet at the lower extremity of the inner member whereby suctionapplied within the inner member retracts the telescoping members anddraws into the inner member any fluid droplets sticking on the outsideof the inner member.

4. A fluid delivery device for supplying fluid to a containercomprising: a stationary barrel; inner and outer telescoping membersslidably mounted in said barrel and adapted to fall as a single unit inresponse to gravity to extend below the barrel, the inner memberextending upwardly within the barrel a greater distance than the outermember and having a fluid outlet at its lower extremity and a pluralityof fluid outlets extending upwardly tor a particular desired distance; aspring retaining member mounted on the inner member and above the outermember; a spring in contact with the retaining member and the outermember whereby the flow of fluid through the inner member causes theinner member to extend beyond the outer member; engaging means on thebarrel and the outer telescoping member adapted to interengage to limitthe downward movement of the fall by gravity of the unit; and a tubularmember mounted Wlthin the inner member and in fluid contact with thefluid outlet at the lower extremity of the inner member whereby suctionapplied within the inner member retracts the telescoping members anddraws into the inner member any fluid droplets sticking on the outsideof the inner member.

5. A fluid delivery device for supplying fluid to a containercomprising: a stationary barrel having an integral collar on itsextremity; a retractable barrel having a beveled extremity mounted forslidable movement within the stationary barrel; a collar having ag'eater diameter than the diameter of the stationary barrel extendingoutwardly from the retractable barrel; a pair of diametrically spacedretractable barrel movement limiting members integrally connected to theretractable barrel collar and extending longitudinally along the outsideof the sta tionary barrel, each of said limiting members being providedwith inwardly extending shoulders adapted to engage the stationarybarrel collar to limit the extent of movement of the retractable barrel;a nozzle of greater length and lesser inside diameter than theretractable barrel and having ports formed therein, said nozzle beingmounted for slidable movement within the stationary barrel and having abeveled portion adapted to mate with the beveled extremity of theretractable barrel when the nozzle and retractable barrel are inretracted position and 5 also having a spring retaining ring extendingoutwardly firom the outer periphery of the nozzle to slidingly engagethe inside of the stationary barrel; a coil spring mounted about thenozzle with one end in contact with the spring retaining ring and theother end in contact with the retractable barrel to bias the beveledportions of the nozzle and retractable barrel into sealing engagement; acylindrical strainer around the inside of the nozzle and covering theports; and a tube connected to the end of the nozzle and extending alongthe axis of the nozzle and inside the nozzle whereby suction may beapplied to the inside of the nozzle to hold the retractable barrel andnozzle in retracted position, the container positioned under the nozzle,the suction stopped to permit the ends of the nozzle and retractablebarrel to fall by gravity into the container, fluid flowed into thenozzle to extend the nozzle beyond the retractable barrel against thebias of the coil spring and fill the container with fluid, and thensuction applied to retract the retractable barrel and nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,413,916 Hallead Jan. 7, 1947 2,930,414 Ring Mar. 19, 1960

4. A FLUID DELIVERY DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING FLUID TO A CONTAINER COMPRISING: A STATIONARY BARREL; INNER AND OUTER TELESCOPING MEMBERS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BARREL AND ADAPTED TO FALL AS A SINGLE UNIT IN RESPONSE TO GRAVITY TO EXTEND BELOW THE BARREL, THE INNER MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITHIN THE BARREL A GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE OUTER MEMBER AND HAVING A FLUID OUTLET AT ITS LOWER EXTREMITY AND A PLURALITY OF FLUID OUTLETS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FOR A PARTICULAR DESIRED DISTANCE; A SPRING RETAINING MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE INNER MEMBER AND ABOVE THE OUTER MEMBER; A SPRING IN CONTACT WITH THE RETAINING MEMBER AND THE OUTER MEMBER WHEREBY THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH THE INNER MEMBER CAUSES THE INNER MEMBER TO EXTEND BEYOND THE OUTER MEMBER; ENGAGING MEANS ON THE BARREL AND THE OUTER TELESCOPING MEMBER ADAPTED TO INTERENGAGE TO LIMIT THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FALL BY GRAVITY OF THE UNIT; AND A TUBULAR MEMBER MOUNTED WITHIN THE INNER MEMBER AND IN FLUID CONTACT WITH THE FLUID OUTLET AT THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF THE INNER MEMBER WHEREBY SUCTION APPLIED WITHIN THE INNER MEMBER RETRACTS THE TELESCOPING MEMBERS AND DRAWS INTO THE INNER MEMBER ANY FLUID DROPLETS STICKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE INNER MEMBER. 